Lots more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/23/tech/twi ... index.htmlEx-Twitter exec blows the whistle, alleging reckless and negligent cybersecurity policies
By Donie O'Sullivan, Clare Duffy and Brian Fung, CNN Business
Updated 5:59 AM ET, Tue August 23, 2022
Twitter has major security problems that pose a threat to its own users' personal information, to company shareholders, to national security, and to democracy, according to an explosive whistleblower disclosure obtained exclusively by CNN and The Washington Post. The disclosure, sent last month to Congress and federal agencies, paints a picture of a chaotic and reckless environment at a mismanaged company that allows too many of its staff access to the platform's central controls and most sensitive information without adequate oversight. It also alleges that some of the company's senior-most executives have been trying to cover up Twitter's serious vulnerabilities, and that one or more current employees may be working for a foreign intelligence service.
The whistleblower, who has agreed to be publicly identified, is Peiter "Mudge" Zatko, who was previously the company's head of security, reporting directly to the CEO. Zatko further alleges that Twitter's leadership has misled its own board and government regulators about its security vulnerabilities, including some that could allegedly open the door to foreign spying or manipulation, hacking and disinformation campaigns. The whistleblower also alleges Twitter does not reliably delete users' data after they cancel their accounts, in some cases because the company has lost track of the information, and that it has misled regulators about whether it deletes the data as it is required to do. The whistleblower also says Twitter executives don't have the resources to fully understand the true number of bots on the platform, and were not motivated to. Bots have recently become central to Elon Musk's attempts to back out of a $44 billion deal to buy the company (although Twitter denies Musk's claims).
Zatko was fired by Twitter (TWTR) in January for what the company claims was poor performance. According to Zatko, his public whistleblowing comes after he attempted to flag the security lapses to Twitter's board and to help Twitter fix years of technical shortcomings and alleged non-compliance with an earlier privacy agreement with the Federal Trade Commission. Zatko is being represented by Whistleblower Aid, the same group that represented Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen. John Tye, founder of Whistleblower Aid and Zatko's lawyer, told CNN that Zatko has not been in contact with Musk, and said Zatko began the whistleblower process before there was any indication of Musk's involvement with Twitter. After this article was initially published, Alex Spiro, an attorney for Musk, told CNN, "We have already issued a subpoena for Mr. Zatko, and we found his exit and that of other key employees curious in light of what we have been finding."
In a statement, a Twitter spokesperson told CNN that security and privacy are both longtime priorities for the company. Twitter also said the company provides clear tools for users to control privacy, ad targeting and data sharing, and added that it has created internal workflows to ensure users know that when they cancel their accounts, Twitter will deactivate the accounts and start a deletion process. Twitter declined to say whether it typically completes the process. "Mr. Zatko was fired from his senior executive role at Twitter in January 2022 for ineffective leadership and poor performance," the Twitter spokesperson said. "What we've seen so far is a false narrative about Twitter and our privacy and data security practices that is riddled with inconsistencies and inaccuracies and lacks important context. Mr. Zatko's allegations and opportunistic timing appear designed to capture attention and inflict harm on Twitter, its customers and its shareholders. Security and privacy have long been company-wide priorities at Twitter and will continue to be."
X -Where Twitter goes to die.
- Luke
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Re: Twitter v. Elon R. Musk
Almost put this just in the Twitter topic, but this is so explosive you know Musky is going to be using it. If true, it's pretty damning for the bird.
Lt Root Beer of the Mighty 699th. Fogbow s titular Mama June in Fogbow's Favourite Show™ Mama June: From Not To Hot! Fogbow's Theme Song™ Edith Massey's "I Got The Evidence!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5jDHZd0JAg
- raison de arizona
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Re: Twitter v. Elon R. Musk
Huh. Feels a lot like disgruntled former employee bullshit. But if Chuck Grassley says there are national security concerns, well then by god there probably...aren't. WTF national security concerns are there with Twitter not properly deleting former users' data? Assuming the allegations to be true. Anyone assuming they can discuss matters of national security privately on Twitter is not very bright. And data has a way of filtering down into lots of places. It is surprisingly hard to delete EVERYTHING when you get a request. From professional experience.
But Elon will undoubtedly use it however he can, that is fer shure.
But Elon will undoubtedly use it however he can, that is fer shure.
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” —John Adams
- Reality Check
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Re: Twitter
I almost started a new topic but found we already had a Twitter thread.
Twitter says it's testing an edit button — after years of clamoring from users
I agree with Dorsey. The fact they want to make it an optional paid feature even makes it worse. I can see this leading to all sorts of mischief and confusion.
Twitter says it's testing an edit button — after years of clamoring from users
More at link...The company hopes the time limit and edit history will help "protect the integrity of the conversation and create a publicly accessible record of what was said."
Skeptics have long warned that an edit button could cause trouble, given Twitter's role in the public discourse and as a de-facto newswire. As NPR's Shannon Bond has reported, some in tech worry it could exacerbate Twitter's existing safety and misinformation issues, though they say some of those concerns can be mitigated by the way the button is designed.
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, who stepped down as CEO in November, was opposed to the edit button and famously told The Verge in 2020 that "we'll probably never do it."
I agree with Dorsey. The fact they want to make it an optional paid feature even makes it worse. I can see this leading to all sorts of mischief and confusion.
- Foggy
- Dick Tater
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Re: Twitter
I have wished I could edit a tweet. 'Course, as a recovering attorney, I edit everything I write. I will edit a post on Fogbow six times, even after I post it.
But you can delete a tweet, or follow it with a tweet explaining any errors. It hasn't stopped me from tweeting.
But you can delete a tweet, or follow it with a tweet explaining any errors. It hasn't stopped me from tweeting.
I'm Foggy and I forget if I approved this message.
- pipistrelle
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Re: Twitter
People respond to their own tweets with corrections.
- Reality Check
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Re: Twitter
Yes, and I have deleted Tweets and/or replied with corrections myself. I think a lot will depend on how it is implemented. Will it have a time limit of say 30 minutes? Will it clearly indicate the Tweet has been edited? Will it reset the likes?
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Re: Twitter
Ok. I seem to have run afoul of the Twitter gods.
I have no idea why.
I filed an appeal, but I may just drop out of it entirely.
This is probably for the better.
I have no idea why.
I filed an appeal, but I may just drop out of it entirely.
This is probably for the better.
- raison de arizona
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Re: Twitter
Twitter has been put on notice that if they suspend Libs Of TikTok again, they are going to get sued. *yawn*
The five page demand letter: https://www.libsoftiktok.com/api/v1/fil ... df400d.pdf
selected excerpts:
The five page demand letter: https://www.libsoftiktok.com/api/v1/fil ... df400d.pdf
selected excerpts:
Joe Rogan, the broadcaster who enjoys the largest podcast audience in the world, called LOTT one of the “greatest” Twitter “accounts of all time.”
That's right. All the way to the Supreme Court. You will let us shit in your living room if we so desire.Regarding state law claims, while Twitter and other social media platforms have had
success convincing lower courts to misconstrue Section 230 of the Communications Decency
Act to nullify them, the tide is turning. See Brendan Pierson, Court revives Texas social media
law against banning users for views, Reuters, May 11, 2022,
https://www.reuters.com/legal/governmen ... 022-05-11/ .
Consistent with the Fifth Circuit’s action in May, many courts
have misread Section 230, and we think that any permanent suspension of LOTT would provide
an ideal vehicle to explore these issues, all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” —John Adams
- raison de arizona
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Re: Twitter v. Elon R. Musk
Musk terminates his merger agreement with Twitter. Again. For those of you counting, this is termination letter number three, since the first two didn't take.
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data ... ex99-r.htm
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data ... ex99-r.htm
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” —John Adams
- Tiredretiredlawyer
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Re: Twitter
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technolo ... r-AA11Jcaj
Elon Musk’s third termination notice to Twitter is about Mudge’s severance
The third time is the charm. Elon Musk’s lawyers might have been thinking that while sending the third termination notice to Twitter last Friday in an attempt to end its $44 billion acquisition of the company. In the latest notice filed with the SEC, Tesla CEO’s legal team has objected to Twitter paying severance money to the company’s former security head Peiter “Mudge” Zatko in June — arguing that the action violated a clause in the acquisition agreement.
The notice sent to Twitter mentions that the deal agreement had a condition where the social network couldn’t pay any non-ordinary severance or termination payments to “Company Service Provider” including ex-employees. We have asked Twitter for a comment, and we’ll update the story if we hear back.
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Twitter confidentially negotiated a $7 million severance with Zatko, who left the company in January 2022. The social network hired him in 2020 to fix the platform’s myriad of security problems. The report noted that Zatko had signed a standard nondisclosure agreement while accepting the payout — but it allowed him to speak about the company through whistleblower complaints and congressional hearings.
Zatko’s whistleblower complaints to the US SEC and FTC came to the fore in July alleging the company of bad security practices that could be a threat “to national security and democracy.” In response, Twitter said he was fired in January 2022 for “ineffective leadership and poor performance” and his allegations against the company painted a “false narrative.” These complaints also accused Twitter of adopting murky measurement matrices to suppress the number of fake accounts on the platform — a core issue in the Musk-Twitter legal battle.
"Mickey Mouse and I grew up together." - Ruthie Tompson, Disney animation checker and scene planner and one of the first women to become a member of the International Photographers Union in 1952.
-
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Re: Twitter
“Twitter shareholders approve $44bn Musk deal”:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-62894600
“Twitter's shareholders have voted to approve a deal with Elon Musk to buy the company for $44bn (£38bn).
The decision was made in a short conference call with investors from the company's San Francisco headquarters.
It means Twitter will now try to force Elon Musk to buy the company in the courts.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-62894600
“Twitter's shareholders have voted to approve a deal with Elon Musk to buy the company for $44bn (£38bn).
The decision was made in a short conference call with investors from the company's San Francisco headquarters.
It means Twitter will now try to force Elon Musk to buy the company in the courts.”
If you can't lie to yourself, who can you lie to?
- MN-Skeptic
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Re: Twitter
By the way, Musk’s Twitter offer is for $54.20/share.
Twitter closed today at $41.74/share.
Heck of a premium Musk will have to pay!
Twitter closed today at $41.74/share.
Heck of a premium Musk will have to pay!
Tim Walz’ Golden Rule: Mind your own damn business!
- RTH10260
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Re: Twitter
I guess Truth Social is now the better deal, nearly free
- RTH10260
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Re: Twitter v. Elon R. Musk
Elon Musk to face deposition by Twitter lawyers ahead of trial
Attorneys are expected to use the interview to try to show that Musk abandoned the deal due to falling financial markets
Mon 26 Sep 2022 23.21 BST
Elon Musk is scheduled to spend the next few days with lawyers for Twitter, answering questions ahead of an October trial that will determine whether he must follow through on his $44bn agreement to acquire the social platform after attempting to back out of the deal.
The deposition, planned for Monday, Tuesday and a possible extension on Wednesday, will not be public. As of Sunday evening, it was not clear whether Musk would appear in person or by video. Reuters reported the deposition did not happen Monday nor was a reason given for the delay, citing sources with knowledge of the situation.
Twitter’s attorneys are expected to use the interview to try to show that Musk abandoned the deal due to falling financial markets and not because the company misled him about the real number of users or hid security flaws, as he alleged.
Musk, the world’s richest man, agreed in April to buy Twitter and take it private, offering $54.20 a share and vowing to loosen the company’s policing of content and to root out fake accounts.
Musk indicated in July that he wanted to back away from the deal, prompting Twitter to file a lawsuit to force him to carry through with the acquisition for $54.20 per share.
Musk wants a judge to allow him to walk away from the agreement without penalty.
The trial over the purchase is scheduled to begin 17 October in Delaware Chancery court and is expected to last just five days.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ ... er-lawyers
- Tiredretiredlawyer
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Re: Twitter v. Elon R. Musk
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Att ... 469805.php
Attorneys for Musk, Twitter argue over information exchange
A Delaware judge on Tuesday ordered attorneys for billionaire Elon Musk to create a log of certain documents that relate to former Twitter security chief Peiter “Mudge” Zatko but not directly to Zatko's whistleblower complaint against the social media giant.
The ruling came near the start of a three-hour hearing on various pretrial disputes between attorneys for Musk and Twitter over requested document disclosures. The two sides will face off in a trial scheduled to start Oct. 17 that will decide whether Twitter can force Musk to carry through with his agreed $44 billion acquisition of the company.
Attorneys have been fighting incessantly over discovery ever since Twitter filed suit in July, seeking an order of “specific performance” directing Musk to carry through with the acquisition. The ongoing battle has tested the patience of McCormick, who has already issued more than a dozen rulings related to discovery disputes.
“Skip the rhetoric and go to the meat,” McCormick said tersely near the end of Tuesday’s hearing when an attorney for Musk began responding to a Twitter lawyer’s argument that the defendants should be sanctioned for withholding documents.
"Mickey Mouse and I grew up together." - Ruthie Tompson, Disney animation checker and scene planner and one of the first women to become a member of the International Photographers Union in 1952.
- Volkonski
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Twitter v. Elon R. Musk
“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.” ― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
- raison de arizona
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Twitter v. Elon R. Musk
Idle speculation on the bird site that Musk's recent endorsement of Russia in the Ukrainian conflict is tied to a Russian investment in the Twitter deal, causing it to move forward. Probably BS, but
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” —John Adams
- raison de arizona
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Twitter v. Elon R. Musk
https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-tw ... 7a1388e0fdSeung Min Kim @seungminkim wrote: NEW YORK (AP) — Elon Musk averts trial, agrees to $44 billion acquisition of Twitter.
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” —John Adams
Twitter v. Elon R. Musk
So it's a good thing that I managed to get suspended.
- raison de arizona
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Twitter v. Elon R. Musk
Twitter Investor Relations @TwitterIR wrote: Twitter issued this statement about today's news: We received the letter from the Musk parties which they have filed with the SEC. The intention of the Company is to close the transaction at $54.20 per share.
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” —John Adams
- KickahaOta
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Twitter v. Elon R. Musk
That makes little to no sense. There are people on Twitter who think that everything that Elon does is eight-dimensional chess. This whole saga has been Elon playing tiddlywinks and losing a few of them in the carpet.raison de arizona wrote: ↑Tue Oct 04, 2022 2:51 pm Idle speculation on the bird site that Musk's recent endorsement of Russia in the Ukrainian conflict is tied to a Russian investment in the Twitter deal, causing it to move forward. Probably BS, but
Twitter's management and big shareholders don't need encouragement to go through with the deal. That's what they've been wanting to do all along, because the terms of the deal are very good for them.
And Elon doesn't need to post to Twitter to encourage himself to move forward.
There's a much more prosaic reason for Elon to change course yet again. From a good article on the subject:
Eric Talley, a law professor at Columbia University, said he’s not surprised by Musk’s turnaround, especially ahead of a scheduled deposition of Musk by Twitter attorneys starting Thursday that was “not going to be pleasant.”
“On the legal merits, his case didn’t look that strong,” Talley said. “It kind of seemed like a pretty simple buyer’s remorse case.”
- raison de arizona
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Twitter v. Elon R. Musk
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” —John Adams